Fremantle star Hayden Young has admitted it was a difficult decision to inform club doctors that he wasn't feeling right a day after suffering a head knock, but he is confident he will be back on the field next round.
Young Misses Games After Delayed Concussion
The 25-year-old missed last round's victory over Essendon and will also be absent for Friday's clash against St Kilda after experiencing delayed concussion symptoms. Young stated that he felt fine immediately after training, but it wasn't until the following day that he realised something was wrong.
“I had training on Tuesday and copped an elbow to the head, but it didn't really rattle me at the time. I finished training and felt all good,” he told 96FM. “But when I woke up the next day, I was a bit groggy and concerned. I thought, 'this isn't normal,' so I did the right thing, even though it was a hard decision, and went to the doctors. They assessed that I had a delayed concussion.”
Health Comes First
Despite his frustration over another injury setback, Young emphasised that it is always better to err on the side of caution when it comes to head knocks. “It was really frustrating at the time because you never want to miss football, but the reality is my health is the most important thing. I'm feeling a lot better now and feeling good,” he said.
Dockers Face Key Clash
With Caleb Serong now likely sidelined for at least the next fortnight due to a calf injury, the Dockers—who are adopting the name Walyalup for Sir Doug Nicholls Round—will be desperate for Young's return for a blockbuster clash against Brisbane at the Gabba next week. Young confirmed he has no lingering symptoms and revealed that captain Alex Pearce is a strong chance to return from a knee injury.
“Pearce is moving well, and he should be back in one or two weeks. He is shaping up nicely,” Young said.
